System and Articles of Interchangeably Connectable Pre-Wired Segments

Abstract

Prewired, interchangeably connectible elements with mating electro-mechanical connectors for constructing a multitude of electrical apparatuses by forming load-bearing, electrical connections between the constituent elements thereof and a method of using such elements therefor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 354,217, filed on Jun. 24, 2016.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Since the widespread introduction of the Edison incandescent light, structural electrical wiring has changed very little. Frustratingly, wall mounted electrical devices and ceiling mounted electrical devices typically follow widely divergent plug and receptacle standards.[0003]In the United States, most appliances are wired with NEMA 1 (two-prong plugs, i.e., with no safety ground) or NEMA 5 (three-prong plugs, i.e., with a safety ground) plugs. Wall receptacles are typically wired with NEMA 5-15R outlets. Typical light bulbs still follow the Edison Screw socket standard first introduced in the early 1900s.[0004]While the current NEMA / Edison Screw wiring system reliably provides an electrical connection to power devices, this system cannot be used to provide physical (i.e., load bearing) support. For e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031]In the example above, the present invention would require an initial installation similar to the traditional wiring system insofar as an electrician would need to: (i) mount a recessed structural element (e.g., a fixture box) onto a structural support member (e.g., a wall stud); and (ii) wire internal connections within the structural element (e.g., a fixture box) into the building's electrical system. Critically, this is where the similarities during an initial installation would end. In a traditional system, the electrician would next be forced to dangerously scale a ladder while carrying a heavy chandelier, ceiling fan or other elevated electrical device. Using the instant invention, however, the electrician could easily install only the “hard wire” adaptor element assembly by making the requisite structural and electrical connections to the fixture box. The electrician (or the building owner) could then quickly and easily attach the desired el

Problems solved by technology

While the current NEMA/Edison Screw wiring system reliably provides an electrical connection to power devices, this system cannot be used to provide physical (i.e., load bearing) support.

For example, a typical table lamp cannot be securely mounted using a NEMA connection.

Rather, any force applied to the cord (e.g., if someone trips over the wiring) will immediately unplug the device or, possibly worse, knock the device over.

This is, in part, due to the inability of NEMA/Edison Screw plugs and outlets to bear a load since nearly all elevated electrical devices require structural support in mounting.

Unfortunately, replacing an elevated electrical device follows much of this same routine pattern.

Wiring a new elevated electrical device poses safety risks.

In fact, because of safety and liability concerns, most elevated electri

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